Humpback Whale Almost Swallows Sea Lion

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Just the other day I witnessed something out on Monterey Bay I had never seen before. While the humpbacks were lunge feeding on a school of anchovies, a sea lion apparently didn't jump out of the way fast enough and got trapped inside the whales mouth! At some point the sea lion escaped and the whale seemed fine too as it continued to feed, but it must have been a strange experience for both parties! That sea lion had the true "Jonah Experience"!

A post shared by Chase Dekker Wild-Life Images (@chasedekkerphotography) on Jul 24, 2019 at 10:13am PDT

Moments like this are what wildlife photographers dream about. Photographer Chase Dekker was watching a humpback whale hunt for breakfast when a sea lion was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The whale lunged into a school of anchovies and accidentally scooped up the sea lion. Thankfully, Dekker was able to snag the shot before the trapped creature escaped.

RELATED: Grouper Swallows Shark Feeding on Swordfish

Don’t worry, this isn’t a sign that humpback whales have become giant bloodthirsty beasts. I'd be more worried about things like giant sharks. 

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stash member Katie Lozancich

TGR Staff Writer and photographer. Fond of bikes, pow, and dogs. Originally from Northern CA, home for me has ranged from the PNW to a teepee in Grand Teton National Park.